Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers had plenty of chances to win today’s game against the Reds, but between sloppy baserunning, wasting chances, and continuing pen issues, they fell by a 6-5 score.
That now makes them suddenly 1-4 in their last five and 7-6 after the All-Star break.
======
Rookie Bobby Miller took the bump and continued to show flashes of the upside while having some bumps in the road. Today, he gave up a three-spot in the 1st behind a triple from Elly De La Cruz, who scored on a TJ Friedl groundout, a double, and then a Jake Fraley homer to make it 3-0 for the Reds.
After that, he settled in quite nicely, scattering just a double, single, and infield single over the rest of the game. Especially nice to see was Miller working out of a runner at third and one out situation in the 3rd, though he did have a high pitch count, which means he only got through five.
Still, Bobby kept the Dodgers in it: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 100 Pitches.
Bobby Miller's six strikeouts. Hammers. pic.twitter.com/14rtHBO5Qr
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
The bats did try to come back against Brandon Williamson, as they got one back in the 1st following a Freddie Freeman walk and J.D. Martinez absolutely shitting on a ball into the gap for a double to make it 3-1.
Unfortunately, their baserunning got into the way of any comeback again. In the 2nd, a bloop single by Chris Taylor led to an out as he tried to take second and was out by a lot. Enrique Hernandez followed with a double to make it look a lot worse, and the Dodgers got nothing.
In the 3rd they squandered a lead-off walk and single, but they managed to cash in an Amed Rosario lead-off double in the 4th. After an out and CT3 walk, a foul out made things look bleak, but Miguel Rojas chopped a ball past first base for a run to cut things to 3-2. However, he got caught in no man’s land between first and second and eventually CT3 got tagged out in a rundown to prevent another crack at tying the game up.
Miguel Rojas singles for a run and then Dodgers baserunning takes over. pic.twitter.com/0wGYUBLo4G
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
For the Dodgers pen, it was Ryan Brasier to start, and he continued his impressive run with a 1-2-3 frame in the 6th. Unfortunately, Yency Almonte was not able to continue his impressive streak of 15 appearances without allowing a run in the 7th. After an out, he gave up a Spencer Steer homer to push the Reds lead to 4-2, and then things really went downhill.
A single, walk, wild pitch, and intentional walk to load the bases was quickly followed by a hit by pitch to force a run in and another walk to force a run in and make it 6-2 to the Reds.
It was then Phil Bickford who was given another difficult task, and he did amazing work, getting a lineout and a pop out to not allow things to get blown completely open as he closed out the 7th.
——
As this was happening the Dodger bats were looking to get going, but double plays made that hard. One erased a single in the 5th, and another erased a single in the 6th, as Williamson made it through 5.2 on the night.
While the pen got out of the 6th, the 7th was a different story. David Peralta pinch-hit and doubled, then James Outman pinch-hit and walked while Peralta advanced to third on a passed ball. That didn’t factor as Mookie Betts also walked to load the bases, setting the table for Freeman, who singled and drove in two to cut things down to 6-4.
Freddie Freeman cuts the deficit to two with a bases-loaded single. pic.twitter.com/VRFoS3afTY
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
After meek at-bats from Will Smith and Martinez, it was new guy Rosario who singled with a magic falling spell to make it 6-5. Unfortunately the rally fell short when a 104 mph line drive from Max Muncy fell short of the track in center. Story of his season.
Amed Rosario magically makes fielder fall, singles a run in to cut the deficit to one. pic.twitter.com/XJUAVSKPXo
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
To close out the Reds, Caleb Ferguson got a pair of strikeouts for a clean 8th, and then Alex Vesia came in and did similar quality work with an 11-pitch frame.
Vesia should throw the slider like this more, IMO. pic.twitter.com/XI5lISkWve
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
Trailing by just a run, the Dodgers tried to rally in the 8th as a one-out single and a steal gave them a shot, but didn’t end up amounting to anything. The 9th was even easier as the heart of the lineup went down on four pitches.
——
At least this shit is fun.
Amed Rosario doubles and immediately hits The Freddie. pic.twitter.com/V2ScknphCE
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
LMAO
Dodgers fan takes a homer directly off the head, Yency Almonte looks disappointed in him. pic.twitter.com/Uaa8C5QC9p
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2023
======
| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 58-44 |
| Giants | 56-48 (3 GB) |
| Diamondbacks | 55-49 (4 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The two teams will do it again an hour earlier tomorrow at 3:10 PM HT/6:10 PM PT/9:10 PM ET with Emmet Sheehan facing Luke Weaver.
